...tattoos have been worn dated to all most 2500 years ago representing nobility, tribe, status,job or punishments. Most tattoos were worn with pride showing you have achieved something you are proud of. Still true to this day most people get tattoos of things they love or are meaningful not always but in most cases so what is it that offends the non tattooed so much that they feel the need to discriminate, or turn up there noses at the tattooed person? I would like to know because I guess I never really asked before.....
I believe many people do stereotype the tattoo wearer to some degree. That before they get to know the person they make assumptions because non-military tats are associated with being too rebellious or not conforming with societal norms. Although tats are becoming common enough that the opposite may be true in some social circles.
Another aspect could be summed up by this familiar quote from a children's story. Whether talking about all tatoos in general, or a very specific image on a single person. Just substitute "tattoo" for "word":
"When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
Where HumptyDumpty is the tattoo wearer displaying something with a specific meaning in mind. But everyone else receives a different message with different meanings.